Ron Harris Muscle: A Bodybuilder Is Born Series.

[webmaster]

In this series of articles, bodybuilding champion Ron Harris is going to teach you everything you need to get started as a bodybuilder. Learn how to become a bodybuilder from his real life examples!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ronharris24.htm

HOW TO REVIEW: Post Your Review Of This Article - CLICK ON POST REPLY BELOW! You do NOT need to be a registered member to post a reply in this section!

[demetre]

This essay is so down-to-earth,__, and so uncompromisingly "common- sensible". Mr. Harris really knows what he's talking about here.

This should be posted on the teenager end.

Interesting article, but Ron paints himself as a cocky *******. A lot of the similes he used were dumb and perpetuated the meathead stereotype. Also, I disagree with him encouraging Randy to drop his friends and girlfriend because they weren't fitness gurus. If everybody did that then we'd be missing out on some really great people. Not everyone shares the same ideas and goals that us bodybuilders do, but we should respect that just like we want them to respect us. Ron needs to realize this.
Overall a good article. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Jeff

[demetre]

Come on Jeff,__, lighten up buddy,

Ron's not submitting this to come off as a "cocky *******". It's a cautionary tale. He's obviously a man of some age, & substantial experience,__, and fullfillng the role of mentor for someone (I'm assuming "RANDY" is a concoction), who clearly needs one. "RANDY" is 23 years old,__, hell , I wish I had a guy like Ron around me at the gym when I was 23,___, the time I wasted in gyms for lack of experience & knowledge! He would have been a "god-send".
Keep in mind,__, he's directing this at YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED &IMPRESSIONABLE men. I don't know about you, but at 23, I was still something of a congenital idiot(!). And I see these "RANDY" types at my gym everyday, awestruck by the "monsters",__, who by the way,__, can be REGULARLY seen scoring their "supplements" from the so-called "trainers".
The" RANDY"S of this world ,__, they're young, in such a hurry, they're going to live forever,__, with no thought to might lie ahead,__, you know, liver failure , exploding spleens , multiple by-pass surgeries,etc., etc. you know all of those prices that are so affordable as far as a beautiful body is concerned.That's not the particular focus of Ron's essay, but it's all part of the steroid issue.
As to the "dumb similes",___, are you so young as to not remember Orson Welles?.. Well, again,__, here we go again, he's "preaching " to a young crowd. Sure, some of it might be a bit "over the top", but it's appropriate to an age group as represented by "RANDY".
As to Ron encouraging the young idiot to drop his girlfriend because she wasn't a "fitness guru", that wasn't what he said,__, she simply wasn't supportive of the choices he's making in life. As you yourself say, between friends there SHOULD be unconditional support.
Reading your post,__, you're an obviously intelligent man, might I suggest you read the essay again,__, a bit less hurriedly,__, and a bit more thoughtfully?,__, and reflectively?. Jim.

[listen]

I wish I had someone like Ron to workout with. Im having to pay my trainer 210 bucks every 2 weeks, which isnt bad, but I cant afford that forever. Everyone I know doesn't understand why I try so hard in the gym, and they are all mostly overweight. They ask me to help them and they slack off the entire time. I'm glad to see Ron and Randy meet each other. I think they will leave lasting impressions. Great Article and post some pics of Randy on your site, I wanna see this "handsome bastard".

I think this was an excellent article. Sure, sometimes his writing is a little cliched, but he 'hits the nail on the head' on many of bodybuilding's issues. When I was Randy's age I was a skinny 175 pound geek too. Now I am a Ron-like 220, but it took a hell of a long time to get here. I wish I had had a mentor to show me the way, even if Randy is actually a construct.
Ron Harris tells it like it is and that is rare in this sport. Most magazines and even some articles on this site are full of ****. Most bodybuilding writing is so dry and humorless too, but not his work.

[ouch]

I liked the articles. Not because I used the information, but because it brought back some good memories of the first time I really had a “Leg Day”. The stories got me a little worked up and looking forward to the gym. Thanks

[demetre]

Listen,___, unless you're working 1-2 x a week, $ 105 is a lot of money. But if, you're at the gym 3, or even 4x a week,__ , that hourly rate is not out of line. But I understand your dilemma as to it being a long-term financial committment. Why not seek out another guy at the gym,__, someone of comparable size/strength to yourself & suggest training together? Who knows, it might be the start of a great friendship. As you describe them, your friends sound like they're a lost cause.
And Deanosumo,__, "I was a skinny 175 lb geek" (!). You' must either be very tall,or at that time suffering from major issues re body image. Hell,__, many of us spent 1-2 years lifting to reach that weght. That's SKINNY. May I ask, just as a point of reference,how long did it take you to gain the 45 lbs?.

In reply to demetre, I'm 6 foot 2. I didn't mean to offend anyone who is also tall and that weight. You gotta start somewhere!
I've been training for 11 years now, though I haven't gained much in the last 3 or 4 years. Bodyfat has been stable. So you could say it took 7 years to gain the 45 pounds. I'm not an easygainer either, and natural. Hard work.
I was woefully ignorant in the early days however. With smarter methods and good understanding of nutrition, I probably could have done it in 5.

[The StaLLioN]

Demetre,

I'm aware that he's not submitting it to come off as a cocky *******, but he does so inadvertently. I'm by no means attacking his knowledge of bodybuilding or him on any level, but after reading the article I came off w/the feeling that he views himself as superior to others. He should've omitted the "I don't bench as much as you" part because it doesn't contribute to the story and paints him as a jerk. If I saw somebody say that to a group of men, regardless of their form or weight, I'd label him a dickwad immediately. Not everybody takes bodybuilding seriously like us and if they want to think they can bench 400+ he should respect that, not poke fun at it. The article as a whole is entertaining, but next time he should edit it so he doesn't come across as a provincial meat head.

Jeff

[demetre]

Jeff,__,
WOW!1, you've a sharp tongue there. Your posts have gotten me to wondering if Harris is following this thread. I'm assuming he is,if not, he should.

Between "cocky bastard", "dickwad"( that's a new one for me,__, I like it), and then the coup de grace__,"provincial meathead", the guy's ears by now are not just burning, but have probably been reduced to two little knobs of ash on either side of his head(!). I sure wouldn't want get on your bad side.

But I must admit, I went back for a 2nd reading,__, & okay, okay, your commentary is a bit more well-taken than I gave it credit for on the 1st reading.

Jim ( the "smug bastard').

[demetre]

It's me again__,
Being new to this site, I'm still trying to find my way. Stupid me,___. I've been assuming that this thread is relative exclusively to episode 6. After my reply to StaLLion,went out for a long walk. During the walk I started to think about his comments of this morning and I suddenly stopped in my tracks and thought"Wait a minute here, there's no bit about "400 lb press" in episode 6. Having read all the episodes so far, I've vague memories of all of them , so ALL of your comments have a vague rig to them.
I'm feeling like a jerk, & apologize to to Jeff in particular and to all of you in geeneral.
But in the meantime, can we have a show of hands,__, StaLLioN, Listen, ouch. deanosumo,__, what episides are YOU commenting on?, and can we agree to entitling our posts in future?. This I think, is a major flaw in this otherwise well-designed site. Note on the POST REPLY page at "Post subject" that it's noted as optional. that should be deleted.

Sorry guys,__, the "mental runt" in this litter( er, thread),__, Jim

[Mighty Mikey G]

The guy Ron was training seemed very immature. I can't believe he was 23 years old.

[dtfranz]

Ya, before they said his age i thought he was maybee 15

[The StaLLioN]

Demetre,

It's me again. I was referring to Episode 4 near the bottom of the page where Ron insults the men bench pressing. It's not something a good role model would do.

Jeff

[bigasssnowman]

I thought it was a great and motivational story. But i would like to see some closer to it? Does Randy compete? die? or what? Anyone know when or if there is going to be an episode 19?

[ShutUpAndSquat]

I really enjoyed reading through those episodes...the episode where Harris guides Randy through the cautions of using steroids is really touching. You can't fake an experience like that.

[John_Wikeland]

I was kind of in a downperiod as far as my training is concerned, but when I read this article I felt kind of reborn.
I really feel like going training again, which I will... Right about now....

[Freddy_Ortiz]

I like Ron Harris' writing, and this series has been truly fun and informative as I expected.
Too bad it seems to have ended.

[paradesend]

I think this randy guy is made up for the purposes of the a good story...if not i want to see pictures of him

...lou

[demetre]

Paradesend,
Of course he's made up!. Nobody's that much of a goofball. It's nevertheless a good article(despite all the naysayers on this thread), __, a well-written cautionary tale.

Jim

hi ron,
i jus finished reading ur 'a bodybuilder is born" and
am really moved.............
im shyam frm india
im 19/5"10/75kfs/32waist/quite muscular.............
i dnt knw hw to start tis but here goes........
i was kinda chubby and fat back when i was 17 and then
i joined gym and really worked my ass off to get a
lean physique but to my worst fear i started goin on
very strict diet like a teenage girl and skipped my
break fast but atlast i was kinda staisfied i became
lean(reduced frm 85 to 65 within 3 months)......then
my coach instructed me to put on little bit weight
...........which i did,later i started working out the
way my coach asked me to......i started to lift weight
and all tht stuff...........but then 2 yrs after til
nw i kinda got a "ok" physique jus to say i work
out......but i gt really pissed cos i dint reach my
goal(to get a body like bodybuilder)and i talked to my
coach abt it but he jus laughed at me and said "its
difficult for u to gt six pack...blah blah blah"
i go to tis gym which is nt high tech as it doesnt
even hve swiss ball......but thts all i can
afford.......then i started referring "mens fitness "
magazines and shwd my coach abt the aritcles and
workouts listed ther but he jus nodded his head and
told "we do all these workouts and so dnt waste ur
time with these crap" smetimes i feel really kicking
tis guy's ass.......he makes fun behind my bck and all
tht crap but he's all i got as i cant afford any other
gym.
heres wat i do for my workouts:
monday:gym closed
tuesday:chest(flat and incline press,flat fly,flat
dumbell press,bend arms) and then abs(crunches,leg
raise)
ps:i do push up after my chest work out.
i do three sets in all(1st set 7.5 kg,2nd set 10.5
kg,3rd set 15 or smetime 22 kgs)
my coach helps me out with last set.
wednesday:shoulders and abs
ps:i can do chin ups or pull ups more than 10 without
help.
thrusday:laths
friday:biceps and abs
saturday:triceps and fore arms
sunday:legs
ps:i got flat abs but quite bulky and back side of my
waist.
im really confused wether wat routine im following is
rite for me to gain a bodybuilder's physique or become
a body builder.....
after reading ur artic;e about randy i felt hw lucky
he is,as he found u.
im at dilemma.........seriously have no clue wat to do
to pump up my body........
im really proud of myself tht as my friends who gave
up and quitted gym as they felt they were wasting
their time for nothing as they dint get a perfect
physique.
smetime i get damn pissed tht i've be working out and
lfiting weights for 2 yrs and gt jus an outform of
bodybuilder's physique or to say not even tht but
never quitted gym as im a fighter.
plz ron help me out and plz tell me wat should i do
exactly.....
eagerly waitinf for ur reply.
shyam
ps:as for my diet i still go on strict diet consisting
of low fat and im a vegeterian
i vil start to be a no veg i thts wats requires for an
aspiring bodybuilder.
hpe to get n positive reply frm u.
my email is:chandler_slayer@yahoo.co.in

[bigasssnowman]

i dont think that ron comes to this forum.. you would be better off emailing that to him.

[driven1]

Really nice article... well written and easy to read with so much truth that it hurts!!
Actually, I have met people with this mentality.... I knew a girl once who gained 65 (YES... 65 POUNDS) within 4 months after her first show.
Her trainers were furious... they were actually LOSING other clients who saw what happened to this girl and got spooked, thinking that it happened to everyone after a show!

Needless to say, this girl was in the supplement shop BRAGGING about the 65 that she had gained!! (Pretty much all on her butt).

True story!!

Barb

I played and enjoyed SoT right through to the end. I wish I couldve played through WW - I did manage a fair bit, but the savegame fudged and wasnt salvagable so that bollocksed that up. The third one never interested me, there were/are better games around. The fourth start of a new series? Ive not played much, but actually looks pretty darn good.